Virgin Galactic's Private Spaceship Aces Another Glide Test

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The private spaceflight company Virgin Galactic scored another
successful drop test of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital spacecraft
today, the latest in a series of smooth solo glides over the
California desert for the commercial spaceship.

SpaceShipTwo, designed and built by the Mojave-based company
Scaled Composites, was released from its huge mothership a little
after 8 a.m. local time today (Jan. 13) and soared in glide mode
back to Earth to a runway at the Mojave Air and Space Port. The
high-altitude flight did not reach space, but was the fourth in a
series of demonstration flights ahead of an actual suborbital
spaceflight test.

"We had another great flight today, piloted by Mark Stucky and
co-pilot Clint Nichols, a good start for what will be a busy year
of flight tests," said George Whitesides, CEO and president of
Virgin Galactic. [ 11
Things Americans Will be Doing in Space in 2011 ]

Whitesides told SPACE.com that as part of the test objectives,
the pilots vented some water just before coming in to land, which
produced a visible contrail.

The first SpaceShipTwo vehicle – dubbed the VSS Enterprise – was
carried high above the spaceport and then released by its
mothership, the WhiteKnightTwo.

"Went great," said Burt Rutan, the founder of Scaled Composites
in a short but sweet e-mail to SPACE.com.

The suborbital spaceliner is designed to carry six passengers and
two pilots, flying to the edge of space for a spectacular view of
the Earth and several minutes of weightlessness.

Virgin Galactic was founded by British entrepreneur and
adventurer Sir Richard Branson, famous for creating Virgin
Records and Virgin airlines.

The SpaceShipTwo has fulfilled an ever-expanding set of flight
objectives, starting with its maiden free-flight Oct. 10. It
underwent a glide test Oct. 28 and a drop test Nov. 17.

According to a Scaled Composites flight log, the SpaceShipTwo has
flown exceptionally well, with tests showcasing its stability and
control during a glide that typically has lasted 11 to 13
minutes.

More
tests of the SpaceShipTwo are on the books, part of a
campaign to ready the craft for commercial operations. Still to
come are flights that will feature short, medium and long blasts
from the craft’s hybrid rocket motor.

Spaceport America: the vacuum of politics

In related news, the nearly completed Spaceport America in New
Mexico – to be the hub of
Virgin Galactic's space travel operations – is under
evaluation by a six-person team assigned to the task by newly
appointed Gov. Susana Martinez.

"While I have embraced this project, it is clear that Governor
Martinez is not embracing me. I understand politics, and I also
understand how critical it is for her to have absolute trust and
confidence in the executive leadership of the NMSA. That is a
governor’s prerogative and it is necessary for Spaceport America
to succeed," Homans, who had been an appointee of Martinez’s
predecessor, Gov. Bill Richardson, said in his resignation
letter.

Homans also stated: "My hope is that Governor Martinez can
quickly move beyond viewing Spaceport America as the legacy
project of Bill Richardson – the very best thing that can happen
is for Governor Martinez to embrace this project as her own
legacy. She will be the governor who opens the first,
purpose-built commercial spaceport in the world – and the world
will be watching."

Stuart Witt, general manager of the Mojave Air and Space Port in
California – home base for the WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo launch
system ?praised Homans in comments to this SPACE.com reporter:

"My association with New Mexico’s Spaceport America has been
positive. Mr. Homans has been a delight. His professionalism and
friendship within the emerging industry has been exceptional,"
Witt said.

"I have no clue regarding internal New Mexico organization,
operation or politics. While the National Space Agency and
private space industry as a whole seek direction and speed, it
remains difficult to understand New Mexico’s executive leadership
stability in the past three years. Personally, I will deeply miss
Mr. Homans. My time with him has left me the benefactor."

Spaceport America is being built as a state-of-the-art launch
facility near the town of Truth or Consequences. It is expected
to become fully operational this year.

Officials at Spaceport America have been working closely with a
number of aerospace firms, such as Armadillo Aerospace, Virgin
Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Moog-FTS and UP Aerospace, to develop
commercial spaceflight at the new facility.

Leonard David has been reporting on the space industry for
more than five decades. He is past editor-in-chief of the
National Space Society's Ad Astra and Space World magazines and
has written for SPACE.com since 1999.